If mile upon mile of alluring coastline, quaint colonial buildings, venerable pagodas and bustling markets are up your alley, then Vietnam really is the place to be. An aesthete’s playground, there are enough verdant paddy fields, surreal caves and steep mountain passes here to satisfy even the most insatiable adventurer. And that’s just the geography. Peopling every district are the inimitable Vietnamese themselves: kind, good-hearted and gifted with a wicked sense of humor, they’ll happily guide visitors to their favorite haunts. If you want to find out more about this fascinating country before setting off, follow our guide to ten of the most beautiful things to see in Vietnam.